US4831450A - Still camera system usable for both film and electrophotography - Google Patents

Still camera system usable for both film and electrophotography Download PDF

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Publication number
US4831450A
US4831450A US07/130,198 US13019887A US4831450A US 4831450 A US4831450 A US 4831450A US 13019887 A US13019887 A US 13019887A US 4831450 A US4831450 A US 4831450A
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United States
Prior art keywords
camera body
voltage
film
still video
light
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Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
Application number
US07/130,198
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English (en)
Inventor
Kazuchika Sato
Nobuyuki Taniguchi
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Minolta Co Ltd
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Minolta Co Ltd
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Minolta Co Ltd filed Critical Minolta Co Ltd
Assigned to MINOLTA CAMERA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, OSAKA KOKUSAI BUILDING, 30, 2-CHOME, AZUCHI-MACHI, HIGASHI-KU OSAKA-SHI, OSAKA-FU, JAPAN reassignment MINOLTA CAMERA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, OSAKA KOKUSAI BUILDING, 30, 2-CHOME, AZUCHI-MACHI, HIGASHI-KU OSAKA-SHI, OSAKA-FU, JAPAN ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST. Assignors: SATO, KAZUCHIKA, TANIGUCHI, NOBUYUKI
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/56—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof provided with illuminating means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04N—PICTORIAL COMMUNICATION, e.g. TELEVISION
    • H04N23/00—Cameras or camera modules comprising electronic image sensors; Control thereof
    • H04N23/60—Control of cameras or camera modules
    • H04N23/66—Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices
    • H04N23/663—Remote control of cameras or camera parts, e.g. by remote control devices for controlling interchangeable camera parts based on electronic image sensor signals

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a still camera system, more particularly to a still camera system which is designed to permit selectively mounting a still video back having a solid image pickup element for picking up still images and a back for film onto a camera body.
  • FIG. 1 there is shown an example of a camera and an electronic flash unit to which such prior art is applied.
  • the part 1 shows a camera body, and the part 2 an electronic flash unit.
  • the camera body 1 is furnished with a photoelectric conversion element (D 1 ) arranged to be sensitive to the light reflected by the film 3 out of the light incident on the camera inside through the interchangeable taking lens; a conversion circuit 5 for logarithmically compressing the output current of the photoelectric conversiion element (D 1 ) into a voltage by a diode (D 2 ) and an operation amplifier 4; an adder 6 for adding the film speed voltage (Sv) set in proportion to the film speed to the aforementioned voltage after conversion; a transistor (Q 1 ) for logarithmically extending said output voltage; a capacitor (C 1 ) for integrating the logarithmically extended current; a switch (S 1 ) for controlling the integrating action of said capacitor (C 1 ); and a comparator 7 for comparing the charge voltage of said capacitor (
  • the electronic flash unit 2 has a flashing section 9 including a xenon tube 10; a flash stopping section (S 2 ) to be put O by the aforesaid flash stopping signal (ST 3 ); a flash starting section (S 3 ); a comparator 11 for comparing the charged voltage of the main capacitor in the flashing section 9 with the predetermined fixed voltage (V 2 ); an inverter 13 for inverting the low level signal produced by switching ON the main switch (S 4 ) for the electronic flash unit to the high level signal and applying to the second input (I 2 ) of an AND gate 12; a timer circuit 14 for outputting a low level signal for a certain duration under the aforesaid flash starting signal; an inverter 15 for converting the low level flash starting signal into the high level and giving it to the flash starting section (S 3 ); and the 4th, 5th, and 6th terminals (T 4 ), (T 5 ), and (T 6 ) corresponding to the first, second, and third terminals (
  • the shutter release button is pressed and, simultaneously with full opening of the shutter, the X contact (Sx) is put on to generate the low level flash starting signal (ST 1 ), a low level signal is generated from the timer circuit to turn the output of the AND gate 12 to a low level. Accordingly, a high level signal is applied to the control terminal (T 7 ) of the switch (S 1 ) through the inverter 8 to make the swtich (S 1 ) OFF state.
  • the flash starting signal (ST 1 ) is converted by the inverter 15 into a high level and applied to the flash starting section (S 3 ).
  • the flash starting section (S 3 ) is switched ON to have the flashing section 9 flash.
  • the light reflected from the object comes into the camera body through the interchangeable lens (taking lens), and a part of it is reflected by the film 3 to reach the photoelectric conversion element (D 1 ).
  • the photoelectric conversion element (D 1 ) outputs the current proportionate to the intensity of light on the film face. This output current is modified into a logarithmically compressed voltage by the conversion circuit 5, followed by combination with the film speed voltage (Sv) by the adder 6 and added to the base of the transistor (Q 1 ).
  • the output current generated on the collector side of the transistor (Q 1 ) charges the capacitor (C 1 ).
  • the present invention covers a still camera system which is so designed that, when a still video back is mounted, a part of the light incident on the solid image pickup element is led to a light receiving element by a diverging means in the still video back, the output current of the light receiving element is converted into a voltage by a conversion means, and then said voltage is led to the camera body through a transmitting means; on the other hand, when a back for film is mounted, the reflected light from the film is caught by the light receiving means provided on the camera body, the output voltage of said light receiving means is converted into a voltage by another conversion means, and, based on the output of a means of responding to the mounting of the still video back to the camera body, one of the aforesaid two conversion means is selected by the selection means, and the selected voltage is integrated by an integrating means, so that, when the said integrated amount reaches the predetermined level, a signal to stop flashing of the electronic flash unit is supplied to the electronic flash unit.
  • the light adjusting operations can be realized not only when the back for film is mounted but also when the still video back is mounted. This means that it is possible to pick up on the solid image pickup element fine quality still images which had hitherto been impossible to realize especially under the taking conditions requiring flash.
  • the still video back and the back for film may be selectively mounted to the camera body.
  • the back for film plays a roll of the back lid of the camera body.
  • the still video back is provided with a half mirror for diverging a part of the incident light on the CCD as a sold image pickup element of the still video back; a first photoelectric conversion element for receiving the diverged light as above; a first conversion circuit for converting the output current of the above photoelectric conversion element into voltage; and a means of transmitting the converted voltage as above to the camera body.
  • the camera body is provided with a second photo-electric conversion element for receiving the reflected light from the film face when the back lid of the camera body is mounted as a back for film to the camera body; a second conversion circuit for converting the output current of the above second photoelectric conversion element into voltage; a means of responding to the mounting of the still video back to the camera body; a selection switch for selectively outputting the output of one of the first conversion circuit and the second conversion circuit proportionate to the output of the above responding means; an integration circuit for integrating the current proportionate to the output voltage from the selection switch; and a means of transmitting the signal for stopping flash to the electronic flash unit when the integrated amount reaches the predetermined level.
  • FIG. 2 is a circuit diagram for the still camera system to which the present invention is applied;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic view showing the like state in plan view.
  • FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing in lateral section the state of a back for film mounted on the camera body in the still camera system to which the present invention is applied.
  • FIG. 2 to which the present invention is applied, the same parts as in FIG. 1 are indicated by the same marks.
  • the electronic flash unit 2 itself is the same as hitherto, but the camera body 1 is provided with a selection switch 16 between the adder 6 and the transistor (Q 1 ), with addition of an operation switch (S 5 ) for controlling selection of said selection switch 16.
  • the operation switch (S 5 ) is put OFF while the back for film is mounted, with the selection switch 16 selected to the contact A side. When the still video back is mounted, the operation switch is put ON to select the selection switch 16 to the contact B side.
  • the contact A is connected to the adder 6, and the contact B to the terminal (T 7 ).
  • the still video back 17 includes a solid image pickup element 18 such as CCD, a signal processing circuit for processing the output of the solid image pickup element, a recording circuit, a magnetic disk as a recording medium, etc. Besides these components, the still video back is furnished with various elements as illustrated. To explain them, the part (L 1 ) is a condenser lens for condensing the light 19 from the object transmitted through the taking lens, (M 1 ) is a full reflection mirror, and (L 2 ) is an image focusing lens.
  • the part 18 is the aforementioned solid image pickup element, constituted by CCD, MOSIC, etc.
  • the part (M 2 ) is a light diverging means comprising a half mirror for diverging the light which has passed through the image focusing lens (L 2 ) in two directions, one being the direction toward the solid image pickup element 18, and the other being the direction toward the photoelectric conversion element (D 3 ).
  • the conversion circuit 21 and the adder 22 comprising a logarithmic compression diode (D 4 ) connected to the photoelectric conversion element (D 3 ) and an operation amplifier 20 have the same construction as the conversion circuit 5 and the adder 6 disposed inside the camera body.
  • the output of the aforesaid adder 22 is given to the terminal (T 8 ).
  • the light simultaneously diverged by the light diverging means (M 2 ) to a direction different from the solid image pickup element 18 is led to the photo-electric conversion element (D 3 ).
  • the amount of light incident on the photoelectric conversion element (D 3 ) and the amount of light incident on the solid image pickup element 18 are proportioned with each other.
  • the output current generated in the photo-electric conversion element (D 3 ) is logarithmically compressed in the conversion circuit 21, added to the voltage (V 3 ) matching the sensitivity of the solid image pickup element, and sent to the camera body side through the terminals (T 8 ) and (T 7 ).
  • the signal sent from the still video back 17 side is led to the transistor (Q 1 ) for extension through the selection switch 16 to charge the capacitor (C 1 ).
  • a flash stopping signal is outputted from the comparator 7.
  • the subsequent operation steps are the same as those given in FIG. 1. In this manner, the light adjusting operation for the electronic flash unit for the camera body mounted with the still video back 17 is completed.
  • the above voltage (V 3 ) is so adjusted that the flash stopping signal (ST 3 ) is outputted when the amount of exposure to the solid image pickup element face comes to a proper exposure level.
  • the operation switch (S 5 ) when the back for film is mounted, the operation switch (S 5 ) is turned OFF and the selection switch 16 is selected to the contact A side, so that the light adjusting operations are made in the same manner as in FIG. 1.
  • the switch (S 5 ) may be a switch means to be selected by reading the electric signal sent to the camera body from the still video back through the terminal for data communication (not illustrated).
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows a condition where the still video back is mounted on the camera body 1 in lateral section
  • FIG. 4 likewise schematically shows the same in plane section.
  • the part 24 is a half mirror for diverging a part of the light incident on the inside of the camera body 1 through an interchangeable taking lens 23. The diverged light is led to the ocular lens 27 through the light leading out means which is not shown.
  • the part 25 is a focal plane shutter, and 26 is a release button.
  • FIG. 5 schematically shows in lateral section the condition where the film 3 is loaded on the camera body 1, with the back for film 3a mounted.
  • the back for film 3a is a back lid mounted on the camera body 1.
  • the camera body 1 has a microcomputer for control for giving control signals to the mechanisms of various parts of camera and receiving signals from those parts.
  • the still video back 17 also has a microcomputer, through which it gives various kinds of information held by it to the microcomputer on the camera body side. Accordingly, the mounting of the still video back 17 can be judged by the receipt of information by the microcomputer on the camera body 1 side from the still video back 17.
  • the operation switch (S 5 ) in FIG. 2 is constituted by the microcomputer per se.
  • the mounting of the back for film 3a can be judged by the abovementioned microcomputer, because no information from the back for film 3a is given. It is of course possible to construct the operation switch (S 5 ) not by a microcomputer as described above but by a mechanical switch.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Stroboscope Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Exposure Control For Cameras (AREA)
  • Details Of Cameras Including Film Mechanisms (AREA)
US07/130,198 1986-12-09 1987-12-08 Still camera system usable for both film and electrophotography Expired - Fee Related US4831450A (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP61292872A JPS63144331A (ja) 1986-12-09 1986-12-09 スチルカメラシステム
JP61-292872 1986-12-09

Publications (1)

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US4831450A true US4831450A (en) 1989-05-16

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US07/130,198 Expired - Fee Related US4831450A (en) 1986-12-09 1987-12-08 Still camera system usable for both film and electrophotography

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US (1) US4831450A (ja)
JP (1) JPS63144331A (ja)

Cited By (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4967281A (en) * 1988-02-26 1990-10-30 Sony Corporation Camera with exchangeable lens device removably mounted on a camera body
US5006871A (en) * 1990-05-23 1991-04-09 Eastman Kodak Company Image recording system and method
US5008697A (en) * 1990-05-31 1991-04-16 Eastman Kodak Company Image recording system and method
US5493353A (en) * 1994-11-01 1996-02-20 Chen; Sayu Dual video and still-film camera
US5570146A (en) * 1994-05-31 1996-10-29 Collette; Michael L. Digital image recording device
US5842049A (en) * 1995-01-26 1998-11-24 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic still video camera having electro-developing recording medium, and image reader incorporated therein to electronically read image signals from developed image of such medium
US5862425A (en) * 1995-01-26 1999-01-19 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic color still video camera having electro-developing recording medium
US20090289174A1 (en) * 2008-05-21 2009-11-26 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Photoelectric conversion device, driving method thereof, and electronic device provided with the same
US20100035661A1 (en) * 2008-08-08 2010-02-11 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Photoelectric conversion device and electronic device having the same

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0097032A2 (en) * 1982-06-10 1983-12-28 Sony Corporation Electronic cameras
JPS59104132A (ja) * 1982-12-07 1984-06-15 Fujitsu Ltd 洗浄方法
US4499504A (en) * 1981-03-31 1985-02-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Video system
JPS62147963A (ja) * 1985-12-20 1987-07-01 Yaskawa Electric Mfg Co Ltd 電流形サイリスタインバ−タの電流制御方法

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4499504A (en) * 1981-03-31 1985-02-12 Canon Kabushiki Kaisha Video system
EP0097032A2 (en) * 1982-06-10 1983-12-28 Sony Corporation Electronic cameras
JPS59104132A (ja) * 1982-12-07 1984-06-15 Fujitsu Ltd 洗浄方法
JPS62147963A (ja) * 1985-12-20 1987-07-01 Yaskawa Electric Mfg Co Ltd 電流形サイリスタインバ−タの電流制御方法

Cited By (11)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4967281A (en) * 1988-02-26 1990-10-30 Sony Corporation Camera with exchangeable lens device removably mounted on a camera body
US5006871A (en) * 1990-05-23 1991-04-09 Eastman Kodak Company Image recording system and method
US5008697A (en) * 1990-05-31 1991-04-16 Eastman Kodak Company Image recording system and method
US5570146A (en) * 1994-05-31 1996-10-29 Collette; Michael L. Digital image recording device
US5493353A (en) * 1994-11-01 1996-02-20 Chen; Sayu Dual video and still-film camera
US5842049A (en) * 1995-01-26 1998-11-24 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic still video camera having electro-developing recording medium, and image reader incorporated therein to electronically read image signals from developed image of such medium
US5862425A (en) * 1995-01-26 1999-01-19 Asahi Kogaku Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha Electronic color still video camera having electro-developing recording medium
US20090289174A1 (en) * 2008-05-21 2009-11-26 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Photoelectric conversion device, driving method thereof, and electronic device provided with the same
US8124922B2 (en) * 2008-05-21 2012-02-28 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Photoelectric conversion device including photoelectric conversion element and amplifier circuit having a thin film transistor
US20100035661A1 (en) * 2008-08-08 2010-02-11 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Photoelectric conversion device and electronic device having the same
US8153954B2 (en) 2008-08-08 2012-04-10 Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd. Photoelectric conversion device and electronic device having the same

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Owner name: MINOLTA CAMERA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, OSAKA KOKUSAI BUI

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